Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-08
Cp-dailI.
wind uphill all the way?
santa Annals second Wife.

A BEAUTIFUL, sLovENLY CREATURE BY THE WORLD
FORGOT.
From City of Mexico Letter.
When General Santa Anna lost power and
prestige and was exiled his young wife proved
a true and devoted woman. In 1874 the extled
hero-old, broken in health and bowed In
spirit-received permission from the Mexican
government to return to his native land, and
then his wife was his chief sOlace and did all in
her power to alleviate his moral and ply
Steal sufIerings. The ex-dictator lived very
been squandered In the West indies; those
who had fawned upon him In other days utterly
ignored him, and he was totally neglected even by
persons on whom he had once conferred immense
favorS. AS to his fayOrite generals and other mill
tary chiefs, many assumed a v1rtuous or patriotic
man who was "traitor;" all seemed TO forget
how well and bravely General Santa Anna had
fought against the Americans in 1916.
After General Santa Anna died his family re-
covered some OF his former possessions, and his
widow Was comparatively wealthy. She owned
Gy e ne dnd a county seat In
satin and velvet dresses, her Itces alone consti.
tuted fortune. and she still retained costly sets
OF diamonds, pearls and emeraliS: but when the
stimulus OF the old Generals ambition was with
drawn, Mrs. Santa Anna became so careless, so
inane, that she had not energy enough to sus-
tain the position she might have held II Possessed
OF any spirit. Her apathy was not due to any re-
gretS for past rank or spiendor. She was simply
lazy, and soon degenerated into a nonenity and
instead or opening her saloon to those who re-
spected her and fully appreciated her virtues, she
received but q few relatives and passed her DAYS
idly loiling in rockiDg-chair. Some two years
ago Spanish lady, who was really attached 10
Mrs. Santa Anna, tried to arouse her from her
oyster-like existence. One morning, when she
found her ex-highness In torn, soiled wrapper
with her hair hanging down and her feet thrust
into Old slippers down at the heel, she said:
"Lola, II l. shame for you TO be so untidy."
Mrs. Santa Anna replied: 81 have no person to
dress for"
.'Nonsence!" exclaimed her friend. "You should
remember that you are the widow Of one OF Next
cos most illustrious heroes Allow Inc to give you
one lesson In neatneSS.'
"What is it?" asked Mrs. Santa Anna, with q Ian.
guild smile.
sit must be given In the parlor" responded Sc
nora B., and leading the widow into the saloon she
pointed to the portrait OF the deceased president
saving: look at that proud face" then stopping
oelore full-Iength portrait or her eX-highnesS,
said: look at your graceful figure, yOtlr beautiful
face, those magnificent jewels, which you yet pos
sess and those almost regal robes" then quickly
turning TO large mirror, added: sand there be-
hold What you are now :"
Mrs. santa Anna gazed at the figure in the mir.
ror, then replied: Eyes, my beauty has all gone"
mo- responded her friend, ''yOur teeth are still
beautiful, your hair is hut slightly CHANGED your
nguTe Is still excellent, out you are SO 5lovenly
lAaL you look worse thar any OF your servants
ana you are SO incident that Ii you do NOT soon
Iouse yourself nall OF your faculties will be par
aiyzed for lack OF exercise"
Mrs. Santa Anna rallied for awhile but about a
year ago when the writer had occasion to see her
ana had called and waited some time woman in
taded calico dress, having her head and form en-
Veiopeu ia blue cotton reboSa, such as servants
ana indian women wear, entered the parlor.
asked: docs Mrs. Santa Anna know am here?
Was my card given her?'
me reply was: "Ah! see you have entirely for.
golten me-" II was Mrs. Santa Anna.